To God pertain the issues of Life and Death.

1Sovereign of life! before thine eye,

Lo! mortal men by thousands die:

One glance from thee at once brings down

The proudest brow that wears a crown.

2Banished at once from human sight

To the dark grave's mysterious night,

Imprisoned in that dusty bed,

We hide our solitary head.

3Yet if my Father's faithful hand